Today in History - November 20, 1866 - Howard University founded in Washington, D.C. On November 20, 1866. Members of The First Congregational Society of Washington decided to establish a school that catered to the teaching of African American clergymen (preachers). In the span of a few weeks this idea was on the road to being a reality and included the provisions to create a university. Within two years the university included Liberal arts and medicine. The members then decided to name the university after Major General Oliver O. Howard who was known as a civil war hero and also a Commissioner of the Freedman’s Bureau, which was established to too aid freed blacks.

Today alumni at Howard include a Rhodes scholar, a Truman scholar, six Fulbright scholars and nine Pickering Fellows. The university has since expanded and now it consists of 12 schools and college with over 10,500 students. It has more than 120 areas of study, including the School of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Science, allowing students to receive undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees it has been ranked in the Top 100 for best colleges in America by U.S news. Howard campus produces more on campus African-American PhD’s than any other university in the world and continues to contribute to American history.

For more information, see the Engineering Pathway’s resources on Howard University and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Also see our resources on African American scientists and engineers or our engineering diversity website.

Also on this date in history in 1931, the first commercial teletype service is launched by AT&T.